The 2018 Boothbay selectmen’s race isn’t a typical municipal election. The competition between three candidates for two seats has resulted in 32 Boothbay Register letters to the editor and a pair of rallies.

The candidates are challenger Mike Pander and incumbents Dale Harmon and Steve Lewis. On April 22, Julie Roberts and Tom and Patty Minerich organized a sign rally supporting Lewis and Harmon. About a dozen people grabbed signs for 90 minutes near the roundabout in Boothbay and near the Congregational Church in Boothbay Harbor. The organizers also enticed others to join them by offering free donuts.

The rally participants believe Lewis and Harmon deserve reelection due to their pro-business attitude. The unconventional selectmen’s race has resulted in conventional campaigning styles usually associated with statewide and national offices. Participants believe this election will impact the town’s future for years.

“We feel so strong about it,” Roberts said. “None of us has ever done something like this before. Here we are on a Sunday morning holding up signs because we want everyone to know how important this election is.”

In the Boothbay Register’s April 26 edition, Pander, a former planning board member, wrote why he’s seeking office. “The point is, let's take a collective deep breath and move on. We can't change history but we can influence the future. Let's focus on economic development while maintaining the character of our town, and encourage the hundreds of folks who drive here to work to live here, too,” wrote Pander.

The election is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 7. A profile of the Boothbay selectmen’s race will be in the Boothbay Register’s May 3 edition.